The University of Maryland Student Government Association has called on administrators to rename five rooms dedicated to U.S. defense contractors accused of fostering “genocide in Gaza.”
The student legislature voted 18-1-1 on Wednesday to demand new names for the Lockheed Martin Room, Lockheed Martin Partnership Suite, Lockheed Martin Lounge, BAE Systems Lab and Leidos Lab.
The largely symbolic resolution pleads with the public College Park campus to rechristen the rooms on the basis that Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Leidos supplied weapons that the Israel Defense Forces used for “war crimes” in conflicts with Hamas terrorists.
“The University of Maryland is responsible for ensuring that the names of campus facilities honor the University’s ’history, values, and central mission’ and align with the University’s ’goals of achieving excellence in teaching, research, and public service within a supportive, respectful, and inclusive environment,’” the resolution states.
The Student Government Association said the university had not responded to its request as of Friday.
“Regarding the University’s obligations, SGA resolutions are advisory,” Louis Mancuso, SGA chief of staff and a sophomore accounting major, said in an email. “Acts such as these express the will and desires of the student body, and urge University leadership to take specific action.”
In an emailed statement, a University of Maryland spokeswoman said the school had no obligation to act on the resolution.
“Resolutions voted on by the Student Government Association are student-led and reflect perspectives of voting members of the SGA,” said Rebecca Aloisi, senior director of university communications. “They have no bearing on university policy or practice.”
The Washington Times reached out to Leidos, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin for comment.
The three companies have donated tens of millions of dollars to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs at the flagship state campus.
“America’s technological leadership depends on a strong STEM pipeline, and we’ll continue to support initiatives that educate and inspire future talent,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement. “We respect the right to peaceful protest and remain committed to strengthening STEM education in partnership with colleges and universities.”
A wave of pro-Palestinian student protests nationally has called on elite universities to cut ties to Israel over its military answer to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas raid that killed and wounded thousands of Israelis and took over 250 hostages.
In a letter to University of Maryland administrators shared with The Times, the Student Government Association noted that 55% of students who participated in an April election asked the “administration to divest from companies knowingly engaging in human rights violations.”
Several divestment resolutions targeting Israel have followed. Last month, the student legislature demanded that the university and its charitable foundation end relations with all companies, institutions and academic groups that “support or profit from Israel’s regime of apartheid and occupation.”
Four of the rooms targeted in Wednesday’s resolution are located in the university’s engineering school. The fifth is in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.
On Friday, Jewish and Muslim advocates offered divided opinions about the student government’s actions.
“This resolution is the latest example of the student government’s inordinate focus on targeting and harming Israel, and doing so based on lies,” said Susan Tuchman, director of the Zionist Organization of America’s Center for Law and Justice. “If there was genocidal intent regarding Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, it was coming from the terrorist group Hamas and certainly not from Israel.”
She called on University of Maryland leaders to “exercise moral leadership” by “unequivocally rejecting” the resolution and explaining “why it’s hateful and wrong.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group, welcomed the resolution as a sign of students’ commitment to ending “genocide and human rights” violations.
“The passage of this resolution at UMD reflects a broader shift taking place on campuses nationwide,” said Zainab Chaudry, CAIR’s Maryland director. “It’s proof that despite emphatic repression and retaliation against students, campus activism has not been silenced.”
• Sean Salai can be reached at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.
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